Method and apparatus for casting metal articles



Aug. 24, 1965 E. Q. sYLvx-:sTER 3,201,837

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CASTING METAL ARTICLES Filed April 6, 1962 5Sheets-Sheet 1 @fyi I N j? 'kw-W. 50

I N VENTOR.

Aug. 24, 1965 E. Q. SYM/ESTER 3,201,837

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CASTING METAL ARTICLES Filed April 6, 1962 5Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR @t tlzzd j/ l l/ Z/ Aug. 24, 1965 E. Q.sYLvEsTER 3,201,837

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CASTING METAL ARTICLES Filed April 6, 1962 5Sheets-Sheet 4 ,fz Jag INVENTOR.

Aug. 24, 1965 E. Q. sYLvEsTER METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CASTING METALARTICLES 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April e, 1962 I NVEN TOR. 55C/w@ @wwwUnited States Patent O 3,201,837 METHOD AND APPARATUS EUR CASG METALARTICLES Edmund Quincy Sylvester, Shaker Heights, hio

(% Grin Wheel Co., 445 N. Sacramento Blvd.,

Chicago 12, lll.)

Filed Apr. 6, 1962, Ser. No. 185,652 14 Claims. (Cl. 22--69) Thisapplication is a continuation-in-part of my copending application SerialNo. 708,558, tiled lan. 13, 1958 for Methods and Apparatus for CastingMetal, now Patent No. 3,032,841, issued May 8, 1962.

This invention relates generally to the art of casting of metals andmore specifically to a method and apparatus for pressure pouring ofmetal articles.

Various forms of apparatus have been proposed for the pressure pouringof molten metal. One of these, for example, is the provision of apressurized ladle structure having a generally vertically extendingpouring tube externally of and in communication with themetal-containing chamber of the ladle body. Such ladle structures can befurther classified into two general categories; that is, those ladleassemblies which after having their ladle bodies filled with metal at asuitable filling station are transported to a pressure pouring stationwhereat they are joined to a waiting pouring tube assembly as contrastedto other ladle assemblies which have their respective pouring tubeassemblies already joined to the ladle body at the time that the ladlebody is lled with molten metal.

All of the above types of ladle assemblies have a common problem ofproviding effective and yet simple means for preventing the flow ofmolten metal out of the ladle body prior to the commencement of theactual pressure pouring operation.

Numerous stopper arrangements have been proposed. However, these havenot been entirely satisfactory in that the various mechanisms wereeither complicated and costly, subject to erosion by the molten metal,or prone to fracture due to either mechanically or thermally developedstress forces.

Accordingly a general object of this invention is to provide a method ofcasting metal articles whereby simple and inexpensive stopper means maybe employed for preventing the tiow of molten metal out of the ladlebody prior to commencement of the pressure pouring operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide, in a ladle assembly,novel stopper means for at certain times preventing the flow of moltenmetal out yof a ladle body.

A further object of this invention is to provide novel actuating meansfor displacing ladle stopper means in order to initiate gravitationaliiow of molten metal out of a ladle body.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent whenreference is made to the following description and accompanying drawingswherein:

FIGURE 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a ladle assemblyconstructed in accordance with teachings of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of a portion ofthe ladle assembly of FIGURE 1 as functionally connected to a suitablemold and gate assembly;

FIGURE 3 is a partial cross-sectional view taken substantially on theplane of line 3-3 of FIGURE l and looking in the direction of thearrows;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view similar to that of FIGURE 1 andillustrating a second embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of a portion ofthe ladle assembly shown in FIG- URE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view similar to that of FIGURES 1 and 4and illustrating a third embodiment of the invention; and

FIGURES 7-10 are fragmentary cross-sectional views of furthermodications of the invention applicable to any of the embodimentsdisclosed by FIGURES 1, 4 or 6.

Certain details are omitted from one or more figures for purposes ofclarity.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawings, FIG- URE l illustratesa pressure pouring ladle assembly 10, of the type wherein a pouring tubeassembly 14 is securely mounted to the ladle body 12, located in anenveloping chamber or pit 16 defined generally by an upwardly extendingWall member 18.

The ladle body 12 may be comprised of iirebrick 20 lining the innerwalls of an outer container 22 so as to define a chamber 24 for thereception of molten metal therein. The pouring tube assembly, comprisedof an outer casing 26 containing clay tile 28 surrounded by sand 3) in amanner defining a conduit 32, may be secured by any suitable means tothe container 22 as at 34. The lower portion of chamber 24 is providedwith a conduit portion 36 which at times completes communication betweenconduit 33, a lower extension of conduit 32, and chamber 24.

A cover assembly 3S, having a ange 40 secured to a downwardly dependingcylindrical portion 42, is secured in sealing engagement to the wallmember 1S as by means of a seal member 44. Any suitable clamping devicesmay, of course, be employed for retaining the cover assembly in suchengagement. Additionally, a seal member 46 is provided between the coverassembly and radially extending liange 48 formed on pouring tube 14 inorder to completely seal the chamber or pit 16 from the ambientatmosphere. After the cover assembly 3S is secured, a suitable mold andgate assembly as schematically illustrated at 52 may be brought intofunctional engage- `ment with the pouring tube for subsequent pouringoperations.

Superatmospheric pressure for the pouring of molten metal, supplied by asource 56, may be communicated to the general chamber or pit 16 by anysuitable conduitry SES. A pressure regulating mechanism 60 may beprovided serially With conduit 58.

Conduit 36 has its upper end formed to provide a valving seat 62 whichcooperates with a generally conical valve member 64 for at timespreventing tlow through conduit 36. Valve or stopper 64, composed of arefractory material buoyant in molten metal, when inally displaced fromthe position shown will float to the top of the molten metal 66 therebyallowing the molten metal to seek its own level by liowing throughconduits 33 and 36 and into conduit 32.

It is of course apparent that after stopper 64 has been displacedsubsequent admission of superatmospheric iluid pressure to the chamberor pit 16 will cause surface 68 of the molten metal to be loweredresulting in a correlative rise of metal in conduit 32. Accordingly,continued application of such pressure will result in the completefilling of the mold cavity.

By way of example, FIGURE 2 illustrates in greater detail the mold andgate assembly 52, schematically illustrated in FIGURE 1, and itsconnection with thel pouring tube assembly 14. Assembly 52 is comprisedof a mold assembly 70, containing a cavity 72, securely mounted to thetop of a gate assembly 74. The lower portion of gate assembly 74 isformed to provide a seating surface 76 adapted to closely receive end 78of the pouring tube assembly 14. A heat resistant gasket 80 may also beprovided, if desired.

.86 which controls the degree ofcommunication'through conduit 88. Apressure responsive' piston and cylinder assembly 90 supported by abracket 92 mounted on the housing 82 serves to actuateslide 'S6 totheposition illustrated, thereby terminating ow of molten metal fromconduit 32 to mold cavity 72.

After ladle assembly Vis sealed within pit 16 and Vthe moldand gateassembly secured to the upper-end 78 of pouring tube 14, slide 86 ismoved to the left until a slot or passageway 94, formed in slide 86completes communication between conduits S8 and 96.' ConduitV` 96, whichcommunicates at its other end with a suitable source of relatively highpneumatic pressure 169, may

also have serially connected therein Va shut-off valveA 93.

When passageway 94 assumes the above position, valve 9S is openedallowing relatively high pressure fluid to v,flow fromA source 100,'through conduit 96, passageway V94, conduits 8S, 32, 33 and 36V causingvalve member 64 to be forced upwardly away from coacting seat 62. Whenvalve 64v is so moved upwardly, the pressure differential whichpreviously existedthereacross, due to the pressure head of the moltenmetal '66 within chamber 24, ceases to exist allowing the naturalbuoyancy of stopper 64 to carry the stopper upwardly to at least nearlythe top surface 68 of the metal. Accordingly, the molten metal 66 willgravitationally flow out of chamber 24 and through conduit 36 until abalance in levels is obtained vbetween chamber 24 and conduit 32.

Valve 93 may then be shut and slide 86 moved to the right until orifice102 is in'alignment with conduit 88 at which time relatively highpneumatic pressure maybe directed to chamber 16 by means of conduit 5Sand valve 60 communicating with a suitable source of pressure 56. Moltenmetal 66 is thusly forced upwardly through conduits 32 and 88, orifice102 andV into mold cavity 72'. When the mold cavity 72 is filled,cylinder assembly 90 is actuatedl causing piston rod 104 to move slide86 to the cut-off position illustrated in FIGURE V2 thereby terminatingall further flow through conduit 8S.

Once the mold cavity 72 is filled, the assembly 52Y may be removed to anarea where the cast metall may at least partially solidify. Successivemold and gate assemblies may then be brought into communication withpouring conduit 32 and pressure applied to chamber or pit 16-aspreviously described. It should be mentioned that such successive moldand gate assemblies need not contain a valving arrangement as providedby conduit 95 and pas-` ditional means for maintaining the. stopper 64in a closed position during such periods as when molten metal is beingpoured into chamber` 24.V FIGURE 3 illustrates, by way of example, onesuch larrangement wherein the ladle body 12 is provided with a bracket1116, suitably secured to the outer'container 22, adapted'to receive end1% of retaining rodlltl. The rod 110 may be formed to provide adownwardly depending segment 112 at the lower end of which is formed alaterally extending abutment portion V.114. The placement of rod 11G asillustrated, prevents the molten metal 116, as it is being poured intochamber 24 from a supply ladle 113, from possiblyr dislodging stopper64. As the level of molten metal increases Within chamber 24, thenecessity of employingy a retaining -rod ceases to exist because of thepressure head of Vmetal forcing stopper 64 onto its cooperatingv seat62. Accordingly, rodV is preferably constructed of a metalhaving'substantially the same cornposition as that which is to iillchamber 24. Therefore, as the level of metal rises within chamber 24,the major portion of rod 116i will melt and become part of the overallcharge thereby allowing stopper 64 to be actuated as previouslydescribed;

FIGURE 4 illustrates generally a type of ladle assembly 120 which, afterhaving its ladleY body122 lilled with moltenmetal 124 -at a suitablelling station, has its ladle body transported to Y a pressure -pouringstation whereat the ladle body is joined `to a waiting pouring tubeassembly 126.

In FIGURE 4, a refractory lined ladle body 122 is `shown having a dishedbottom 12S and a bottom opening centrally disposed therein'to facilitateexhausting the ladle of molten metal. The metal casing or container 132of the ladle body may be provided With an upper hollow rim 134 whichprovides a substantial nonporous seating surface for a sealing gasket136 and also y Vforms an annular chamber 138 throughV Whichia coolinghooks or, the like which may be required for removing and replacing thecover. A refractory stopper 144 which may be seated in conduit portion1,30may be provided with a downwardly depending stem 145 which may be Yused for retaining the stopper 144 in place.r

After the ladle body I122 has been charged with molten V,metal andclosed by the cover 142, the ladle body may be lowered by acrane intoengagement with a refractory Y y*lined steel pouring tube structure 126,as illustrated. In

stopper to initiate discharge of metal from the ladle body.V

and'into the pouring tube assembly. t Y

In Vsome instances it maybe desirable to provide ad-Y ditional valvingmeans, such as 9,` serially connected in conduit 96 at a pointfgenerallybetween valve 98 and conduit 32. The purpose of valve 97 would beto ventconduits 32 and 96 tothe atmosphere, after valve. 98 has been shut butbeforeY slide 86 is moved to the right, thereby relieving anysuperatmospheric pressure remaining therein as supplied by source 100."In other cases such relieving of pressure may be effectivelyaccomplished, for example, by the various riser arrangements containedwithin the mold structure itself Vonce orifice 102 is brought intoalignment with conduit 8,8.

`Other valving arrangements may, of course, be "emv p10yed instead ofthat disclosed by FIGURE 2. That is,

this case, the lower end ofthe pouring tube-structure terminates in anupturned ,open mouth structure 143 shaped to seat in sealing engagementwith a recess formed in the bottom of the ladle body. A suitable moldand gate assembly 150, similar to assembly 52, may be functionallyconnected tothe upper end of pouring tube assernblyvr 126 so as to be incontrolled communication with conduit152 and stopper 144 may Ythen bepneumaticallyV raised olf its lseat and relatively high pressurepneumatic fluid admitted to the ladle body chamber by means of conduit53 kinthe manner previously'described in connection with FIGURES l and2.

VFIGURE 5 villustrates asimple arrangement for holding the stopper 144securely in place during lilling of the ladle body 122.5l The stem 146is provided with a key-receiving opening 154. A washer 15d is seatedagainst the bottom ofthe ladle and the stem 146 of the stopper is passedtherethrough. A key 15S, having a cable 160 attached thereto, isl passedthrough the keyway 154 in the stem146 tov hold the stopper 144 andwasher 156 in place until the ladle `body is lilled. With the stopperthen held in place by the pressure of the molten metal in the ladlebody, the key 158 may be safelyrwithdrawn by Vcable 160 permittingwasher V156 to fall olf and leave the stopper freeto be subsequentlydisplaced by air pressure as previously described.V v

FIGURE 6 illustrates a stillfurther variation of a ladle assembly 162wherein a refractory lined ladle body 164, .containing molten metal 166therein, is received in an overall enveloping bell-like pressurecontaining housing `168. A stopper 170, provided with a downwardlydepending stem 172, serves to at times prevent flow of molten metalthrough conduit 174 formed in the lower portion of the ladle body. Stem172 may be considered a modification of stem 146. That is, stem 172 issomewhat elongated so as to add to the total weight of stopper 170 inorder to inhibit displacement of stopper 170 during filling of the ladle164. In this instance a multiple pour* ing tube assembly 176, having acentrally disposed and upwardly directed mouth 184, is provided forengagement with the ladle body 164.

Superimposed over the radiating horizontal legs 178 of the pouring tubeassembly is a relatively heavy, rigid plate 180 of generally annularconfiguration, which may be partly or largely supported at oppositesides of the radiating legs by any suitable structure (not shown) so asto carry the weight of a filled ladle and its cover structure withoutdamaging the radiating pouring tube legs 178. The inner periphery of theplate 180 is sealed at 182 about the mouth 184 so as to be capable ofwithstanding the gas pressure to be applied in and about the ladle body164.

A circular array of any desired number of hydraulic rams 186 may bemounted on the plate 180 for initially supporting the ladle 164 spacedupwardly out of engagement with the mouth 184 of the pouring tubeassembly, and with the lower end of the stopper stem 172 spaced upwardlyout of engagement with the bottom of conduit 188 of pouring tubeassembly 176. The outer periphery of plate 180 projects radiallyoutwardly beyond ladle body 164 in order to provide a seat for the rigidbell 168 enclosing ladle body 164.

The lower end of the bell=16`8 may be flanged and recessed to hold an.annular sealing gasket 190 adapted to provi-de .a gas pressure sealbetween 4the bell and plate 1'80. The top lof the bell may have a gaspressure conduit 192., similar to conduit 58 of FIGURES 1 and 4,connected thereto for intermittently supplying gas pressure into theIbell and relieving the pressure again as occurring during the pressurepouring cycle previously discussed.

Eyes 194 may, of course, be provided on the be'll 168 for lifting andlowering it with a crane. Also, hydraulic rams i196 mounted on anysuitable superstructure 19S may be provided to hold the bel-l tirmlyseated on the plate .180 .as pressure within the =bell increases.

When ladle body i164 has been filled with molten metal 66, Ithe ladle islowered onto the hydraulic rams 186 in their raised condition. The bell168 is then lowered into place and the hydraulic rams 196 are actuatedto apply a downward force on the bell. Thereupon the hydraulic rams 186are retracted to lower the ladle body 164 into .communication with mouth184 of the pouring tube assembly 1716. Once stopper 170 is pneumaticallydisplaced as previously disclosed, superatmospherie pneumatic pressuremaybe directed from a suitable source through conduit 19:2 and into bell194 causing the molten metal to ttlow upwardly through conduit 188 andinto suitable cooperating mold .and gate assemblies connected to theends of the pouring tube assembly 176.

Other congurations of Stoppers may be employed in place of the generallyconical stopper members 64, 144 and .170. lFor example, FIGURE 7discloses a spherical refractory stopper 200 coacting with a conicalseat 202 at times prevent llouI of mo'lten metal out of the conduit 204formed in the lower portion of the ladle body 206 while FIGURE 8illustrates a stopper 208 formed of a spherical segment. Both Stoppers200 and 208 are similar in the sense that each establishes substantiallyline contact with its cooperating seat. Accordingly, in some 'instancesit may be possible to reduce the required air pressure tor unseatingstopper 200 or 208 as compared to .a generally conical stopper as 64.

FIGURE 9 illustrates a disc-like stopper member 210 cooperating with arecessed seating .surface 212, formed in the lower portion of ladle body206, for at times preventing ilow through conduit 204. The outerdiameter y2114 of the .recess is preferably slightly larger than stopper216 so as to allow the stopper to be closely received therein. Each ofthe Stoppers 200, 208 Vand 210 may of course be provided with stems suchas 146 or 172, as the case may be. However, it should be pointed outthat a stopper closely received Within the ladle body, as is illustratedby stopper 210, does not require the extra assurance of additionalmechanical means for being held onto its cooperating seat during iillingof the ladle because the clearances surrounding the 4stopper arepreferably designed to be -insullicient l`to cause the stopper to floatoff the seat when molten metal flows into the clearances. Addition-ally,if the top surface 216 of the stopper is shielded as, for example, bythe bottom of the ladle body chamber, splashing of molten metal causedduring lling will not dislodge the stopper.

The stopper 218 of lFIGURE 10 is furthe-r modhied by the addition of ametal band 220 `aflixed thereto and having downwardly dependingspring-like -arms 222 and 224 partially extended in a generally radialdirection. When the stopper 218 is urged into place prior to ladletilling, arms 222 and y224 are Ito a degree urged inwardly toward eachother thereby frictionaflly engaging the wall surface of conduit 204. Ininstances where additional mechanical holding means are desired, meanssuch as rod 1110 or friction wiper arms as l2212 and 224 may beemployed.

From .the foregoing description, it will be understood that Atheinvention is susceptible to many detailed moditfcations according to thespecific objects sought to be attained. Uses for all of these variantsof the invention and others which will occur to those skilled in the artare contemplated and intended to be embraced by one or more of theappended claims. Those familiar with the art of metal casting, 4andparticularly the art of casting relatively high melting point metals,such as iron and steel, will readily appreciate from the foregoingdisclosure how the various objects and advantages of the invention maybe `achieve-d.

I claim:

1. A method of casting metal from a reservoir of molten metal containedin an enclosed ladle having a bottom pouring opening closed fby astopper member, comprising placing said opening in communication withthe lower end of a separable, .upwardly extending, refractory pouringconduit disposed externally of said reservoir for delivery Iof metalfrom the ladle to a mold, placing the opposite end of the pouringconduit in communication with the bottom of a separate mold, creating afirst superatmospheric pressure within -said pouring conduit Sullicientto dislodge said stopper member from said pouring opening, reducing saidlirst superatmospheric pressure to a value substantially equal toambient atmospheric pressure, creating a second superatmosphericpressure on the molten metal within said ladle in order to causecontinued tlow of molten metal from the ladle through the pouring-conduit and into the mold until the mold is full, relieving said secondsuperatmospheric pressure, `and separating the lil-led mold `from thepouring conduit.

2. A method of producing flow of molten metal from a ladle chamberhaving a bottom pouring opening with a refractory stopper member thereinand communicating with an upwardly directed pouring conduit, comprisingthe steps of creating a superatmospheric pressure within said pouringconduit suicient to dislodge said stopper, relieving saidsuperatmospheric pressure, and applying superatmospheric pressure to theladle chamber and continuing such application to such an extent as toraise the level of the molten metal in the pouring tube above that inthe ladle chamber.

3. A method of pressure pouring cast metal articles with a ladle havingan open top and an external vertically eiitending pouringtube' incommunication with an orifice formed in the lower `portion of said ladlecomprising the steps of providing stopper means for closing saidorifice, filling the ladle with molten metal, transporting 'said filledladle to a pit and lowering said ladle intorsaid pit to a position inwhich a lower end of said pouring tube is in Communication with saidorifice and the uppermost end thereof projects a substantial distanceabove said ladle, sealing said pit from the ambient atmosphere in amanner enclosing said ladle, placing a Suitabley mold structure intofunctional engagement with said uppermost end of said pouring tube,creating a irst superatmospheric pressure within said pouring tubesufficient to unseat said stopper means thereby allowing molten metal toflow by gravity from said ladle through said orifice and into saidpouring tube, Vrelieving said firstsuperatmospheric pressure,andapplying a second superatmospheric pressure tov said sealed pit tocause said molten metal within said ladle to iiow upwardly through saidvertically extending pouring tube and into said mold structure.

'received within'an enveloping outer container, and having af pouringtube communicating at its lower inlet end with an outlet orifice formedin said ladle and-having its outt let end projecting upwardlythroughtsaid outer container,

stopper means for preventing flow of molten metal through said outletorifice, additional means for applying a superatmospheric pressureagainst said stopper means on the pouring tube side thereof so astodislodge said stopvper in order to permit gravitational flow of moltenmetal out of said ladle outlet orifice, and means for applyingsuperatmospheric pressure in said outer container and therebyon themolten metal in said ladle.

8. In a pressure pouring apparatus characterized by a Y ladle containingmolten metal, vreceived within an envelop- VY4. A method of pressurepouring lcast metal articles v Vwith a ladle having an open toprand anexternal-vertically extending pouring tube in communication with anorifice formed in the lower portion of said ladle comprising the stepsof closing said ori'lice by manually locking coacting stopper means in aclosed position with a vertically eX- tending metallic rod memberlocated within said ladle, filling the ladle with molten metalplacingsaid filled ladle into a pit in a position in which a lower end of saidpouring tube is in communication with said orifice and the uppermost endthereof projects a substantial distance above said ladle, sealing saidpit from the ambient atmosphere in a'manner enclosing said ladle,allowing said metallic rod to be melted by said molten metal, placing asuitable mold structure into functional engagement with said uppermostend of said pouring tube, pressurizing said pouring tube so as todislodge said stopper so as to allow molten metal to flow by gravityfrom said ladleA through said orifice and into said pouring tube, andapplying superatmospheric pressure to said sealed pit Vto cause saidmolten metal within said ladle to fiow upwardly through said verticallyextending pouring tube and into said mold structurer.

5. Apparatus for casting metal, comprising tory-lined ladle containingmolten metal and having an outlet opening formed. in the lower portionthereof, a

separate generally upright spout structure defining a refractory-lined.pouring conduit having an upper Voutlet Vend and a lower inlet end incommunication with said superatmospheric pressure to said pouringconduitV sufii-V cient to unseat said stopper member against the staticpressure head of said molten metal in order to allow said molten metaltogravitationally flow into said pouring conduit, and additional means forsubsequently admitting Ya second superatmospheric pressure against saidlmolten metal within said ladle in order to cause said molten metal toflow out of said ladle, through said pouring con-s Y duit .andrinto saidmold assembly. Y

6. In ak pressure pouring apparatus characterizedV by .a ladlecontaining molten metal, received within an envelop-V ing outercontainer, and having a pouring tube communicating at its lower inletend with an outlet orifice formed 'in said ladle and having its outletend projecting upward-` ly through said outer container, saidoutlettorifice comprising a conduit portion having a conical seat formedat one end thereof, stopper means comprising a generally conicalrefractory stopper member adapted to at times engage said conical seatfor preventing 'Viiow of `molten metal through said outlet orifice, andVadditional means for applyingv a superatmospheric pressure againstV saidY a refracing outer container, andV having a pouring tube Vcommuni-Vcating at its lower inlet end with an outlet orifice formed in saidladle and having its outlet end projecting upwardly through said outercontainer, said outlet orifice comprising a conduitportion having Vaconical seat formed at one end thereof, stopper means for preventing owof molten metal through said outlet orifice,` saidY stopper meanscomprising a generally conical refractorystopper lmember adapted to attimes engage said conical seat, a

downwardly depending portion formed on said stopper member adapted to befreely received within said conduit portion, friction means secured tosaid dependingportion for frictionally engaging said conduit portion inorder to maintain said stopper member in seated position during fillingof`said ladle with molten metal, and additional means for applying asuperatmospheric pressure against said stopper means on the pouring tubeside thereof so as to dislodge said stopper in order to permitgravitational ow of molten metal out of said ladle outlet orifice.

9. In an arrangement for pressureV pouring molten metal into a moldassembly, ladle meansY for containing a supply of molten lmetal therein,outlet means formed inra lower portion of said ladle means for at timesdischarging said molten metal therethrough, conduit means communicatingbetween said outlet means and said mold assembly for at times conveyingsaid molten metal from said outlet means to saidr mold assembly, stoppermeans presented in said outlet means for preventing flow of moltenmetaltherethrough, and additionalY means for creating a superatmospheric,pressure against said ystopper means sufficient to dislodge saidstopper means so as to Venablerflow of molten n, metal through saidoutlet means.

A10. In an ,arrangement for pressure pouring molten metal into a moldassembly, ladle means for containing a supply of molten metal therein,outlet means formed in a lower portion of said ladle means for Vat timesdischarging vsaid molten metal therethrough, conduit means communicatingbetween said outlet means and said mold assembly for at times conveyingsaid molten metal from said outlet means to said mold assembly, stoppermeans presented in .said outlet ymeans for preventing flow of moltenmetal therethrough, and additional imeans for creating aV super-V,assembly for at times conveying said molten metal from said outletmeans to Vsaid mold assembly, stopper means f presented in said outletmeans for' preventing flow of molten metal therethrough, and additionalmeans vfor creating a superatmospheric pressure within said conduitmeans sufficient to dislodge said stopper means so as to enable flow ofmolten metal through said outlet means said additional means comprisinga source of superatmospheric pneumatic pressure, valve means seriallyconnected between said rst conduit means and said mold assembly, andadditional conduit means communicating between said source and saidvalve means, said valve means being arranged so as to terminatecommunication between said rst conduit means and said mold assembly whencompleting Comunication between said source and said lirst conduit meansand terminating communication between said source and said rst conduitmeans when completing communication between said rst conduit means andsaid mold assembly.

12. A method of producing ilow of molten metal from a ladle chamberhaving a pouring opening formed in a lower portion thereof with arefractory stopper member therein, buoyant in the molten metal, andcommunicating with an upwardly directed pouring conduit, comprising thestep of creating a superatmospheric pressure within said pouring conduitsutlicient to dislodge said stopper, relieving said superatmosphericpressure, and applying superatmospheric pressure to the ladle chamberand continuing such application to such an extent as to raise the levelof the molten metal in the pouring tube above that in the ladle chamber.

13. Apparatus for casting metal, comprising a refractory-lined ladle forthe containment therein of molten metal and having an outlet openingformed in the lower portion thereof, a separate generally upright spoutstructure dening a refractory=lined pouring conduit having an upperoutlet end and a lower inlet end in communication with said outletopening, a refractory stopper member seated in said outlet opening anddisposed generally within said ladle, a metallic retaining rod memberattached to said ladle and having one end depending downwardly into saidladle, said one end of said rod being so positioned as to be in abuttingrelationship to said stopper member thereby maintaining said stoppermember in seated position against said outlet opening, means for sealingsaid ladle from the ambient atmosphere, means for admitting a rstsuperatmospheric pneumatic pressure to said pouring conduit suicient tounseat said stopper member once said rod member is melted by said moltenmetal in order to allow said molten metal to flow into said pouringconduit, a mold assembly suitably connected to said upper outlet end ofsaid pouring conduit, and additional means for subsequently admitting asecond superatmospheric pneumatic pressure against said molten metalwithin said ladle in order to cause said molten metal to flow out ofsaid ladle through said pouring conduit and into said mold assembly.

14. In an arrangement for pressure pouring of molten metal into a moldassembly, ladle means for containing a supply of molten metal therein,outlet means formed in a lower portion of said ladle means for at timesdischarging said molten metal therethrough, said outlet means cornprising a conduit portion having an inlet end and an outlet end, asubstantially concentric counterbore to said conduit portion formed atsaid inlet end thereof, conduit means communicating between said outletend and said mold assembly for at times conveying said molt-en metalfrom said outlet means to said mold assembly, stopper means adapted tobe closely received within said counterbore for preventing the ilow ofmolten metal through said outlet means, and additional means forcreating a superatmospheric pneumatic Ipressure, against said stoppermeans sulcient to displace said stopper means from said counterbore soas to enable ilow of molten metal through said outlet means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,025,092 4/12Hunter et al. 428 1,305,145 5/19 Meyer 4-28 2,310,766 2/ 43 Dornauf22-69 XR 2,448,903 9/48 Miller 22-69 2,847,739 8/58 Sylvester 22-692,863,189 12/58 Beck 22-85 2,865,068 12/58 Dunn 22--69 2,997,756 8/61Strom 22-69 3,014,255 12/61 Bussard et al. 22--20-9 3,040,400 6/62 Coady22-85 3,044,132 7/62 Murton 22--85 3,054,155 9/ 62 Zickefoose 22-209MARCUS U. LYONS, Primary Examiner.

MICHAEL V. BRINDISI, Examiner.

2. A METHOD OF PRODUCTING FLOW OF MOLTEN METAL FROM A LADLE CHAMBERHAVING A BOTTOM POURING OPENING WITH A REFRACTORY STOPPER MEMBER THEREINAND COMMUNICATING WITH AN UPWARDLY DIRECTED POURING CONDUIT, COMPRISINGTHE STEPS OF CREATING A SUPERATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE WITHIN SAID POURINGCONDUIT SUFFICIENT TO DISLODGE SAID STOPPER, RELIEVING SAIDSUPERATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE, AND APPLYING SUPERATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE TO THELADLE CHAMBER AND CONTINUING SUCH APPLICATION TO SUCH AN EXTENT AS TORAISE THE LEVEL OF THE MOLTEN METAL INI THE POURING TUBE ABOVE THAT INTHE LADLE CHAMBER.